Separation-Individuation, Exploration, and Identity Diffusion as Mediators of the Relationship Between Attachment and Career Indecision

The purpose of this study was to test the fit of a theoretical model in which separation-individuation, career exploration, and identity diffusion were specified as mediators of the relationship between attachment functioning (anxious and avoidant) and career indecision (informational and personal-emotional). Structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables was used to examine the fit of the model to self-report data provided by college students (N = 285). The model provided a good fit to the data, with most theorized paths being significant and in the predicted direction. However, expected paths between separation-individuation and the career-related variables were not significant, raising questions about this construct as a mediator of attachment-career indecision relationships. Implications for future research and for intervention are presented.